Consider the following statements:

1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is a statutory advisory body advising the government on animal welfare laws & promotes animal welfare in India. It was established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MFAHD – Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying).
  • The subject of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was transferred from MoEF to MFAHD in 2019.
• Well-known humanitarian Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904-1986), an eminent Bharatanatyam dancer, was instrumental in setting up the board. It oversees Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) by granting recognition to them. It also provides financial assistance to recognised AWOs.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006, provides for creating the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA – a statutory body under MoEF) and
• NTCA administers Project Tiger. Tiger reserves in India are administered by field directors in accordance with the guidelines of NTCA. No alteration in the boundaries of a tiger reserve shall be made except on a recommendation of the NTCA and the approval of the National Board for Wildlife. No State Government shall de-notify a tiger reserve, except in public interest, with the approval of the NTCA and the National Board for Wildlife.
• Chairmanship: Minister for Environment and Forests.

Statement 3 is correct

• The National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of the River Ganga (National Ganga Council) was established by the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management) Authorities Order, 2016. It replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
• NGC has the overall responsibility of preventing pollution and rejuvenating the Ganga River Basin. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG – registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860) is the implementation wing of NGC, which is implementing the Namami Gange Programme.
• Members of the National Ganga Council:
  • Prime Minister – Chairperson.
  • Union Minister for Jal Shakti – Vice-Chairperson.
  • Union Minister for Environment, Finance, Power, Housing, Science and Technology, State for Tourism and Shipping.
  • CMs of States through which Ganga or its tributaries flow.
  • Vice Chairperson, Niti Aayog

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Hard